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Ezekiel 13:22Ezekiel 13:22
"Because with lies you have made "Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, the heart of the righteous sad,
whom I have not made sad; and whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the you have strengthened the
hands of the wickedhands of the wicked, so that he , so that he does not turn from his wicked does not turn from his wicked
way to save his life.”way to save his life.”
Jeremiah 23:14Jeremiah 23:14
““Also I have seen a horrible thing in Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery & walk in lies; commit adultery & walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of They also strengthen the hands of evildoersevildoers, So that no one turns , So that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me & her them are like Sodom to Me & her
inhabitants like Gomorrah.”inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
How Did they Strengthen the How Did they Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked?Hands of the Wicked?
While Jeremiah and Ezekiel While Jeremiah and Ezekiel preached the truth declaring preached the truth declaring
God’s wrath on the wicked, the God’s wrath on the wicked, the false prophets preached peace. false prophets preached peace. (Jer. 23:15-(Jer. 23:15-
17; Ezek. 13:13-16) 17; Ezek. 13:13-16)
How Did they Strengthen the How Did they Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked?Hands of the Wicked?
While God doesn’t take any pleasure While God doesn’t take any pleasure in the death of the wicked and wants in the death of the wicked and wants him to repent so that he will live, the him to repent so that he will live, the false prophets were telling lies about false prophets were telling lies about God’s word which emboldened God’s God’s word which emboldened God’s
people to continue in their sin and people to continue in their sin and die die (Ezek. 18:23; 13:19, 22).(Ezek. 18:23; 13:19, 22).
How Do Men Strengthen the How Do Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked Today?Hands of the Wicked Today?
By Teaching ErrorBy Teaching Error
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked By Teaching Errorthe Wicked By Teaching Error
““Inherited depravity” Inherited depravity” ““Once saved, always saved”Once saved, always saved”
“ “No future punishment” No future punishment”
What do people believe as a What do people believe as a result of these errors that are result of these errors that are
taught? taught?
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked By Teaching Errorthe Wicked By Teaching Error
““God made me the way I am. I God made me the way I am. I can’t help it.” can’t help it.”
““I am already saved, so I don’t I am already saved, so I don’t need to ever repent or confess need to ever repent or confess
my sins to be right with God and my sins to be right with God and go to heaven.”go to heaven.”
““Since there is no hell – I can live Since there is no hell – I can live however I want.”however I want.”
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked By Teaching Errorthe Wicked By Teaching Error
Thus there is no accountability for Thus there is no accountability for their actions which denies and their actions which denies and contradicts the word of God. contradicts the word of God.
The same message that Israel The same message that Israel believed in Jeremiah & Ezekiel’s believed in Jeremiah & Ezekiel’s time is strengthening the hands time is strengthening the hands
of the wicked so that people of the wicked so that people don’t repent of their sins today.don’t repent of their sins today.
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked By Teaching Errorthe Wicked By Teaching Error
Inherited Depravity vs. God’s WordInherited Depravity vs. God’s Word
They said, “Why should not the son bear They said, “Why should not the son bear the guilt for the father’s iniquity?” but the guilt for the father’s iniquity?” but God said, "The soul who sins shall die. God said, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of father, nor the father bear the guilt of
the son. The righteousness of the the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, & the righteous shall be upon himself, & the
wickedness of the wicked shall be upon wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” himself” (Ezekiel 18:19-20).(Ezekiel 18:19-20).
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked by Teaching Errorthe Wicked by Teaching Error
Once Saved Always Saved vs. God’s WordOnce Saved Always Saved vs. God’s Word
When a wicked man turns from sin and practices When a wicked man turns from sin and practices righteousness, will he live righteousness, will he live (Ezekiel 18:21-22)?(Ezekiel 18:21-22)?
God says YES, but man says NOGod says YES, but man says NO
If a righteous man turns away from righteousness If a righteous man turns away from righteousness and commits sin will he live and commits sin will he live (v. 23-24)?(v. 23-24)?
God says NO, but man says YESGod says NO, but man says YES
Man says, “The way of the Lord is not right” Man says, “The way of the Lord is not right” (v. 25).(v. 25).
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked by Teaching Errorthe Wicked by Teaching Error
No Future PunishmentNo Future PunishmentAs false prophets deceived the people with As false prophets deceived the people with
their message of peace, false teachers their message of peace, false teachers today strengthen the hands of the today strengthen the hands of the
wicked by refusing to warn them about wicked by refusing to warn them about their sins and eternal punishment in hell. their sins and eternal punishment in hell.
Jesus died so that we might escape from Jesus died so that we might escape from the wrath to come the wrath to come (Rom. 5:9) (Rom. 5:9) and and
warned about the unquenchable fire warned about the unquenchable fire (Mk. (Mk. 9:43ff).9:43ff).
Men Strengthen the Hands of Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked by Teaching Errorthe Wicked by Teaching Error
These doctrines strengthen the hands of These doctrines strengthen the hands of the wicked to continue in their sin while it the wicked to continue in their sin while it makes the heart of the righteous grieve.makes the heart of the righteous grieve.
Does it hurt you to hear that someone Does it hurt you to hear that someone has been murdered? has been murdered?
How much more should it hurt when false How much more should it hurt when false teachers are leading souls to hell with teachers are leading souls to hell with their smooth & flattering speech their smooth & flattering speech (Rom (Rom
16:17-18)?16:17-18)?
How Do Men Strengthen the How Do Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked Today?Hands of the Wicked Today?
By Teaching ErrorBy Teaching Error By Sinning With Them By Sinning With Them
(Hypocrisy)(Hypocrisy)
We Strengthen the Hands of We Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked When We Sin with the Wicked When We Sin with
ThemThem The false prophets/teachers of The false prophets/teachers of
that time were guilty of that time were guilty of committing adultery and so are committing adultery and so are
many today.many today.
Others lust, drink, dance, gamble, Others lust, drink, dance, gamble, lie, curse, do drugs, party or lie, curse, do drugs, party or
commit other sins with them commit other sins with them (1 (1 Peter 4:1ff)Peter 4:1ff). .
We Strengthen the Hands of We Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked When We Sin with the Wicked When We Sin with
ThemThemBut how will others see their need But how will others see their need to repent if we sin with them? to repent if we sin with them?
We have given false comfort that We have given false comfort that their souls are in no danger.their souls are in no danger.
What should you do when your What should you do when your friends, family, or brethren try to friends, family, or brethren try to
get you to sin with them?get you to sin with them?
When You are Enticed to Sin When You are Enticed to Sin with Others, SAY NOwith Others, SAY NO
““When sinners entice you do not When sinners entice you do not consent” consent” (Proverbs 1:10ff).(Proverbs 1:10ff).
Either Ananias or Sapphira could Either Ananias or Sapphira could have saved their lives if one or have saved their lives if one or the other would have had the the other would have had the
conviction to say no to the sin of conviction to say no to the sin of deception deception (Acts 5).(Acts 5).
When You are Enticed to Sin When You are Enticed to Sin with Others, SAY NOwith Others, SAY NO
““How blessed is the man who does How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the not walk in the counsel of the
wicked, Nor stand in the path of wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of
scoffers! But his delight is in the scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law law of the LORD, And in His law
he meditates day and night” he meditates day and night” (Psalms 1:1-2).(Psalms 1:1-2).
How Do Men Strengthen the How Do Men Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked Today?Hands of the Wicked Today?
By Teaching ErrorBy Teaching Error By Sinning With Them By Sinning With Them
(Hypocrisy)(Hypocrisy) By Failing to Warn ThemBy Failing to Warn Them
We Strengthen the Hands of the We Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the
SinnerSinner
Ezekiel was appointed as God’s Ezekiel was appointed as God’s watchman whose job was to warn watchman whose job was to warn the righteous & the wicked the righteous & the wicked (Ezek. (Ezek.
3:17ff). 3:17ff).
If the watchman failed to warn them, If the watchman failed to warn them, he would die along with the rest of he would die along with the rest of
the people because of his the people because of his negligence. negligence.
We Strengthen the Hands of the We Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the
SinnerSinner
If the apostle Paul was silent about If the apostle Paul was silent about the sins of the brethren, they would the sins of the brethren, they would have seen no need to repent of their have seen no need to repent of their sins sins (2 Co. 7:9-10; Gal. 1:6ff; 2:11ff). (2 Co. 7:9-10; Gal. 1:6ff; 2:11ff).
The Corinthians, Galatians, & even the The Corinthians, Galatians, & even the apostle Peter needed to be warned apostle Peter needed to be warned so they wouldn’t lose their souls.so they wouldn’t lose their souls.
We Strengthen the Hands of the We Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the
SinnerSinner
This is why we must warn others This is why we must warn others about the consequences of about the consequences of
unrighteousness, following the unrighteousness, following the traditions of men, divorce and traditions of men, divorce and
remarriage, and other errors. remarriage, and other errors. (Gal. 5:19-21; Matt. 15:1ff; (Gal. 5:19-21; Matt. 15:1ff;
19:9)19:9)
We Strengthen the Hands of the We Strengthen the Hands of the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the Wicked When We Fail to Warn the
SinnerSinner
When we sin with, encourage, or say When we sin with, encourage, or say nothing to others who believe in these nothing to others who believe in these or other errors and they live by them, or other errors and they live by them, we are giving them false comfort and we are giving them false comfort and they don’t see any need to repent of they don’t see any need to repent of
their sins. their sins.
““Do not participate in the unfruitful Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them”. them”. (Ephesians 5:11)(Ephesians 5:11)
If God’s Word was Preached the If God’s Word was Preached the People Would Repent of their Evil People Would Repent of their Evil
DeedsDeeds
"But if they had stood in My "But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have council, Then they would have
announced My words to My announced My words to My people, And would have turned people, And would have turned them back from their evil way them back from their evil way
And from the evil of their And from the evil of their deeds” deeds” (Jeremiah 23:22).(Jeremiah 23:22).
If God’s Word was Preached the If God’s Word was Preached the People Would Repent of their Evil People Would Repent of their Evil
DeedsDeeds
This demonstrates the power of This demonstrates the power of influence for many will follow the influence for many will follow the religious leaders they trust in. religious leaders they trust in.
If we stand up for the truth, others will If we stand up for the truth, others will more likely repent of their sins, but if more likely repent of their sins, but if
we don’t, why would they ever we don’t, why would they ever consider being converted to Christ?consider being converted to Christ?
ConclusionConclusion
The Israelites in captivity were saying The Israelites in captivity were saying that their bones were dried up, that that their bones were dried up, that their hope had perished, and they their hope had perished, and they were completely cut off were completely cut off (Ezekiel (Ezekiel
37:11). 37:11).
But God was going to bring people to But God was going to bring people to life in a new covenant which was life in a new covenant which was
fulfilled in Christ fulfilled in Christ (Ezek. 37:4-6; Jer. (Ezek. 37:4-6; Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13).31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13).
ConclusionConclusion
Even though dead in sin, you can be Even though dead in sin, you can be made alive through Jesus Christ by made alive through Jesus Christ by
obeying the truth, and be born again to obeying the truth, and be born again to a living hope through His resurrection. a living hope through His resurrection.
(Eph. 2:1ff; John 3:5; 1 (Eph. 2:1ff; John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3, 22-23) Peter 1:3, 22-23)
Or you can be restored back into the Or you can be restored back into the Lord’s fold again Lord’s fold again (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).(Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).
